Friday afternoon my family and I checked into the JW Marriott Desert Ridge. I noticed a lot of college age guys milling around the place and immediately started to panic. I panicked even more when I found out from one of them that they were all here for a fraternity conference.

I didn't go to a college that had fraternities, so pretty much anything I've ever heard about fraternities is what great parties they throw. I was beginning to brace myself for a hectic weekend and beginning to form explanations in my head of what I would have to tell my 3 year old daughter about the behavior she was seeing.

I have to tell you though, I was pleasantly surprised. Even with getting up to our room (there's a lot of baggage with me, my wife a 3 year old and a 1.5 year old) my fears were beginning to subside when one of the SigEp's held the elevator for us, called me sir and even assisted with one of our bags when he heard that my daughter wanted me to hold her and my arms were full!!

When we got poolside on Saturday there was not exorbitant partying, no heavy drinking and no rudeness going on. I had the pleasure of floating in the "lazy river" for a while with some of the guys from the USC chapter and they were friendly and knew how to hold a conversation with someone they've never met before. I work with high school and college age students at my church and there are MANY of them that can't hold a simple conversation with someone 10 years or more older than them.

A year ago my wife and I were at the same hotel and had a horrible experience. I was really worried history was going to repeat itself, but your guys actually made it a more positive experience for my family and I.

Thank you for training up the next generation of men and teaching them to be "Balanced Men".